Men's Lacrosse Surges Past Franklin Pierce for First Win of 2026
Purple Knights earn first win for first-year head coach Ryan McAleavey.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
|
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3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
Team Stats
Franklin Pierce (at FPU)
| Game Statistics | Franklin Pierce (at FPU) | Bridgeport |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 31 | 31 |
| Ground Balls | 12 | 19 |
| Saves | 14 | 16 |
| Clears | 20-24 | 23-24 |
| Turnovers | 27 | 29 |
| Face Offs Won | 5 | 12 |
| Man Up | 1-6 | 1-7 |
RINDGE, N.H. – Fueled by seven different goal scorers, the University of Bridgeport's men's lacrosse team shook off an early deficit and surged past Franklin Pierce, 10-5, on Saturday afternoon at Sodexo Field. The Purple Knights' first win of 2026 pushes their record to 1-1 this season.
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening five minutes, UB responded in emphatic fashion, closing the first half on a 6-1 run and carrying a 6-3 lead into the break.
Bridgeport continued to pour it on out of halftime, netting three straight goals to open the third quarter and build a commanding 9-3 advantage with 7:46 remaining in the frame.
It was a balanced offensive effort for UB, as seven different players accounted for the team's 10 goals.
Sophomore Stephen Trama led the way with two goals and three assists for a team-high five points, playing a hand in half of Bridgeport's scoring.
James Napoli and Luciano Canino each added a pair of tallies, while Noah Beard, Ashton Lankowski, Matthew Levantini and Mark Napoli also found the back of the net.
Defensively, the Purple Knights were just as sharp, holding Franklin Pierce to five goals on the afternoon. Senior Ryan Thomas anchored the unit with a team-high three caused turnovers, helping UB force 27 miscues overall.
At the faceoff X, Connor Cullen continued his strong start to the season, winning 10-of-15 draws while scooping up a team-best five ground balls.
In net for UB, freshman Matthew Hughes was sensational in his first collegiate start. The Long Island native allowed just five goals while making an impressive 16 stops.
UP NEXT
The Purple Knights are scheduled to make their home debut on Wednesday against Bentley (4 p.m.).